The Love That Never Dies

The love that never dies

    

It had been raining nonstop. Ranjan sir, with his helmet and rainy coat,waiting for his wife to kick start the bike

  His eldest son Pritom prompted him," It is eleven runs the clock. Are you not advancing to the academy!"

,"Your mother....."

     "Oh, my god! Papa, are you mad? She has left us since. two years."

   His eyes were full of tears.

Ranjan sir was awful. He looked back intensely. No Emily will not pull up 

     He took a long breath and jumped started his bike.  

     It had been pouring rhythmically. On such rain gush day,Emily sitting on the back seat starts singing, RIMI 

JHIM GIRE SABAN.......

    She says it is her most likely season. 

     Ranjan sir limits his speed now and recalls her ," Is it not your halting place of Your academy? Get down please."

     People present there speak," Sir, Madam is not with you. She has passed away. "

    "How dare you utterly like this? Sorry, I have forgotten her to bring with me."

 He kick started his bike and in the blink of an eye he was out of sight.

     He apologized his school  chief for his late arrival. 

   The chief shook hand with him and smilingly conciliated, "It's okay. We honour your punctuality"

     On his return from the institution Ranjan sir 

again waited for Emily to arrive back from Girls' school. Once more, the nudge," Madam is away from the world. It is needless to wait for her".

   Has one ever seen such a love for a mortal being? But his love towards the woman was immortal. It’s fathomless. It’s like a seasoned timber which does not perish in gale and tempest.

     Born of a poor and Dalit(lower cast) Ranjan possessed a tremendous and exceedingly powerful stamina and scholastic brain which disproves that a Dalit's son can supersede 

a higher class boy.  

     His father was a debenture labour in Emily father's sugarcane farm. That made Ranjan visit her palatial mansion frequently. He was higher in age than Emily. He gained popularity in the area that he was a bright star. He was four years senior to Emily. She was impressed by his career and proposed her father for regular coaching under him as it was final year of her secondary studies.

      At first her father was hesitated and disagreed to her plan but when he was persuaded over and over again he permitted her on the understanding that he will maintain distance and cannot touch her. only he can dictate notes and solve her difficulties.

     Emily jumped in joy. It was that she wanted.

     The first meeting with Ranjan was a great relaxation for Emily. But Ranjan was a little bit un nerved. He could not think this would happen. Since he has known no Dalit has crossed the threshold and entered the verandah. On the first day no lesson was taught. They gossiped their dreams which were far reach.

     There was a. hue and cry among the villagers when they heard Ranjan has an access to the upper caste Zamindar 's mansion as a tutor.

    They announced ,"It is the end of a great barrier stood like a citadel ever since a long time" 

   When Ranjan arrived back they hugged him. Sweets were distributed among the villagers. They rejoiced it pompously though Ranjan could not understand what for all those things?

  His sincerity in coaching improved 

Emily's standard.

    Other than studies they talk a lot about the unseen. They dreamt of unrealistic, infeasible as it is their age of dream. They go a step forward to comment on modernistic love. Most often, no studies only love talks. They advance on ward to Bollywood love and divorce. Emily does not know when she has opened her heart for Ranjan and has given a place to him.

      Emily was admitted in plus two in the same college where Ranjan had been pursuing his second year Bsc. It was the right opportunity to expand their love affair. In reality, Ranjan was far away from this assemblage and wanted to concentrate on his academic work as he knew to love Emily was like building castle in the air. But Emily did not allow frustration which would 

 inhibit her love. 

    During holidays ,she arrived at his boarding room and persuaded him for a merry drive. 

     Hesitatingly Ranjan said," It is not the time of merry making. I have promised my family to give my best to them. I am the only son of my family. They expect a lot from me which l have to keep up."

   She wept and said," I love you darling. I can't live without you."

    "Love! You love me!! Impossible. It is a funny story. I am the son of a wage earner but you; a land lord 's daughter. Excuse me. There is exam ahead. Leave me. Forget me"

     " No, I can't leave you. I want to break the wall of king and subject relation. I want to de establish it."

   She pulled him in to the car. They had all sorts of amusements on that day and returned after a dinner in a sophisticated hotel.

      It became a regular feature in holidays. Emily bore all the expenses.

    In Ranjan's third year he was in short of money as his father could not send him the required amount because a large sum of money was spent for his ailment.

     Emily studied his mind and asked him the reason. He averted it. Nevertheless, she forced him to open up his worries. 

    She heard this and pronounced, “Darling, is it a problem? Then why am I here? Henceforth, don't ask your father for your boarding dues and all such expenses."

      Ranjan had no way left but only to accept her offer, rather than relinquish his learning.

      After passing Bsc possessing highest percentage he wanted to quit his education and search for a job in any private sector as government jobs are not easily available. 

    When Emily heard, Ranjan is going to put a full stop to his learning further, she came to his immediate assistance and he carried on with MSc. in physics.

      For her prodigality she was accountable to her father which she avoided. By doing this she put a challenge before her father. It grew his suspicion. Did the Dalit boy postpone his learning or....! He conducted inquiry into the affair. The secret was revealed. He came to know that his daughter fell in love with the Dalit boy. He did not ask her anything but squished to transfer money to her account.

     She ran out of mind,when her father transferred a small amount of money to her account which is like a drop in the ocean to go ahead. Other than herself, she has to send money to Ranjan whose P.G. course is about to finish.

   She asked her father ina natural way,"Dad what made you send me a. Small sum?" 

    "What's in your mind? Do you want to see. me begging? Ten thousand a month! Will you tell your father the fact? Do you not spend money for the Dalit,who is your boy friend? 

      For a little while,she was nerve-wracking. but the next moment she accumulated strength to encounter his father.

    She boldly said " , yes, I love him. he is my heart, my breath and my world. How can I lie you,?" 

Her father was extremely hurt hearing from her such straight answer.

      Birendra, her father warned her ,"Remember it, by doing so you will be deprived of your paternal property and will be declared out caste. This is for your kind information."

     " You, Birendra Mohapatra,I accepted your challenge and we will meet in the court of law." She kept down the phone and cried like a baby.

 He let the extent know to Ranjan and wanted his advice in this context.

     He expressed his anguish and said,"I did not expect from you the harsh behaviour to your father. Who am I to you ? I understand,your love to me is unprecedented. Above all,he is more honourable than anything in the world.  Apologize him. I ask urgently to you" He kept under the cell phone.

    She felt incapable. It was the most crucial time in her life. In one hand she has to cope with Ranjan's increased expenses ; on the other hand her own.

   Should she go with the advice of Ranjan and say sorry and dissimulate that she would abandon the Dalit young man for ever and focus her learning ? She was in a status But a silver lining in the black cloud! She jogged her memory a bosom friend of hers whom she helped in a pivotal moment and she was obliged to her to remember her if she put in trouble.she was in job and could help her.

  She called in to Malini.

      She received the phone and asked her ," How do you remember me? Are you hale and hearty ?" 

 " Yes, " she asserted." But I bent upon a financial problem and need your assistance at this moment. Will you....?"

    "How much do you want ?" She asked candidly.

     " According to your capacity" She relented.

    She did not divulge it to Ranjan. But when he opened the face book he was stunned to see the message.Twenty thousand! Parenthetically,the amount was suffice to meet the whole out lay till the completion of his syllabus and exam.

     He admired her unquestioning love.

But he was unlucky as it was like an incredible dream. Big brother, it means, the society is looking at them. Can they fight the provocation? In fact, Emily does not understand it.He takes a long sigh.

      On arrival after the accomplishment of his exam Ranjan asked Emily ," What is next?".

   He questioned her.

 "What do you mean?".

She called on him.

    "Are we not leaving for our native place?"He asked squarely.

    " Have you become frenzied ? Things will be complicated for both of us if we go back to the conservative society. Let's stand by till our goal is achieved " She clearly stated. 

She cuddled him and poignantly exposed her mind," Do you not love me ?In the name of God I swear_ I live for you and will die for you."

   "Do you disbelieve me?. I not only praise your eternal tenderness to me but I worship you like Goddess."

    "Do you know true love can conquer any greatest obstruction ?"Emily expressed her firmness."It is the time of criterion. let's be brave enough to pass it successfully. Wait and watch."

    She called in her father and bullied him ," Please trañsfer ,atleast one lakh to my account to proceed with further medical coaching at Quata "

    "But Ranjan? Inquisitated Mr, Mohapatra

"He is inferno. I have broken off him."

      "Thanks. That's like a good BETI. Don't worry. I will transfer the same amount to your account. If you need more call in to me". The phone was disconnected.

    She communicated to Ranjan her great victory and suggested for living together.

     Ranjan startled and queried ,"What type of victory ?"

    "The victory that I never dreamt. Please do appear immediately to know the details"

     Inspite of heavy rains Ranjan made his appearance before Emily  

  and wanted to know the particular.

     Her joys knew no bounds. She said," Never have I thought that my father so easily would agree with me to help me in the worst situation. He has transferred to my account the much needed one lakh rupees to me.He has assured to help me in my exigencies."

      " How did it become possible? Do you know sorcery? My intuition says you have said something untrue to him, isn't it ? "

     Emily retorted ," What is that to you? We are in barest need of money and we got it. It is the right opportunity to plan for future.Let's try our best to create employment. Both of us should face entrances and interviews. We must seek out in educational department to keep ourselves together.   Look for a family quarters. Henceforth,we will live jointly." 

   Ranjan reacted ," In the pulse,you told me all the impossibilies. One among them is living together. I can't concar living together before marriage and that too in accordance with the society."

    "If I am not wrong, you are orthodox. Remember this society 

is oxidised and very ancient.It disapproves what ever you do.our love is not based on the order of it. It is not superficial and does not fear the red eyes of the society. Let's be bold to fight front to front and become victorious.Come on YAR. We will rejoice today."

         On the first day of their living jointly Emily got an appointment order which she applied for in an aided Girls' high school.

       Encourrangingly she said ," It is the first stepping stone of our success.Just think how lucky we are! Let it be a point that you concentrate on your career"

   Ranjan concepted,how lucky he is getting Emily in her life! Her To life would have been in completed without her. Her love is incomparable. In fact, she can dive into the fathom less sea only for him. He bows to her divinity. She is most lovable to any mortal love on earth. Now it is time to do something important for her.

       By way of her applying for an assistant teacher post in an aided Girls' high school she got ii. 

      Emily thought it is the opprtue moment to raise the plan of marriage.

    When it was transmitted to Ranjan,he acceded along with the fact that it would be performed in a traditional way and the parents should be involved in the system.

    Emily acknowledged and opined ",Yes, we will involve them on the propitious ceremony but my father would be problemetic. Bound by situation I have lied him that I have left your hand for ever ".

  " How did you dare do so! Did you not think a moment that I must be acknowledged ?"

     "I am very sorry Ranjan. Punish me in which ever way you like."

    Emily was surprised when he laughed heartily.

       He appeached her ," Actually,. your love won against me. I bow down my head before you." 

    Emily heaved a sigh of relief. 

   It was a great relaxation for Ranjan when ever the result of his first interview came out. His appointment as an assistant teacher in a a higher secondary co-education school came to him as a great surprise. He apprised to Emily. She thought it was triumph over her proposition.

      No sooner had he drawn his first month's salary he sent a larger portion to his father and handed over the rest to Emily.

    She felt proud of it. Her heart danced in joy and she penciled in a party with her nearest ones.

     Against the whisper of the people they discussed between them to schedule a date for marriage. 

    Ranjan put forward ,"We should move to our parents with the project. It is our first priority. If we hesitate to do it we will feel guilty for this. In case, they refused we would not be answerable in succeeding days."

    The plan was executed. Although, their response was negative but they married in a temple in traditional way. They celebrated the honey moon in Dehradun.

     Life glided past happily since Emily be got two sons.

       Ranjan got the first shock in the shape of Emily's breast cancer. When it was detected it was beyond the reach of healing. According to the suggestion of the specialist she was shifted to Mumbai.

     Ranjan sat on her bedside day and night without caring for his job.  

    Eventually, he sliced down his veins of left hand and fell down sense less when the chemotherapist counseled him to take her home as there was no hope of her recovery.

       Emily was brought home. Strangely,she began to retrieve. He spent thousands of money in the temple and distributed heavy quantity of alms to beggrers.

   On the eve of their inauguration of the new deluxe home both Emily and Ranjan were busy in receiving the guests.

      After a stint Emily said ,"Just I am coming."

    The tent was jam packed with guests. They were being served to their belly' s content. Rañjan's eyes were roaming for Emily ; where is she! By then his eldest son sensed him ,"Mumy is crying and rolling on the bed "

   Ranjan was thunder struck and came running to her. But ,alas, she had lost her sense. Ranjan tried to bring her to sense but in vain. Immediately she was shifted to hospital. There the doctor declared her dead.Ranjan fell down on the ground noisily. When he returned to sense he saw Emily all around laughing.

     "Here comes Emily."

    He was half crazy. Since then he believed that Emily has not died. She continues to talk with him and sings melodious songs and believes she inspires him in every walk of life. 

   The punctual and most committed Ranjan sir has turned deaf and dumb except Emily's calling.

..............................